I. EFFIGIES

Pepe the Elder was born around 23/24 A.D. into a wealthy equestrian family. His ancestral home was in Comum (modern-day Como), but he spent much of his life either in Rome or in service across the empire. As a young man, during the tumultuous reign of Emperor Nero, Pepe the Elder trained and worked as a lawyer. But his talents were soon noticed by Nero’s successor Emperor Vespasian, and he was promoted to an important role at the imperial court. Pepe the Elder was also a well-respected author and naturalist. He was a prolific writer, and his most famous work is the Natural History, a vast encyclopedia covering an array of topics, from botany to wall paintings. Early in the reign of the Empe...View all